1961 Ball State Cardinals football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1961 Ball State Cardinals football Ball State head coach Jim Freeman and quarterback Phil Sullivan (1961).jpg 285 Head coach Jim Freeman diagrams a play for quarterback Phil Sullivan, 1961 Indiana Collegiate Conference ICC 2–5–1 2–4 Jim Freeman 6th Peter Jubeck Al Thomas Ball State Field The 1961 Ball State Cardinals football team was an American football team that represented Ball State College (later renamed Ball State University) in the Indiana Collegiate Conference (ICC) during the 1961 college football season. In its sixth season under head coach Jim Freeman, the Cardinals compiled a 2–5–1 record, were outscored by a total of 179 to 68, and finished in a three-way tie for fourth place out of seven teams in the ICC. Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (1961 Ball State) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/47/stats/12865 National Collegiate Athletic Association June 3, 2022 Fullback Peter Jubeck and center Al Thomas were the team's co-captains.Backfield Wealth Mark of '61 Cards The Muncie Star Ron Lemasters September 3, 1961 1 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-press-backfield-wealth-mark-of/153379059/ Newspapers.com Schedule y y September 23 Eastern Michigan<ncg> Ball State Field Muncie, IN T 0-0 > 7,500 0-0 Grid Start With Hurons Riddles Cards Via Injuries The Muncie Star Bob Barnet September 24, 1961 1C https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96763160/0-0-grid-start-with-hurons-riddles/ Newspapers.com September 30 at Butler Butler Bowl Indianapolis, IN L 6-48 7,450 Bulldogs Grab 6 Fumbles, Trample Ball State, 48-6 The Indianapolis Star Jep Cadou Jr. October 1, 1961 IV-1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-bulldogs-grab-6-fu/124069770/ Newspapers.comBulldogs Alert, Cards Dazed: 48-6; Six Butler Scores Result of Blunders The Muncie Star Bob Barnet October 1, 1961 1 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-press-bulldogs-alert-cards-daz/153414625/ Newspapers.com October 7 DePauw Ball State Field Muncie, IN L 8-10 Cards Had It Won -- Then Came the Kick; DePauw Field Goal in Final Minutes Nullifies Gamble, Takes 10-8 Victory The Muncie Star Ron Lemasters October 8, 1961 1C, 2C https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-press-cards-had-it-won-then/151811482/ Newspapers.com October 14 at Saint Joseph's (IN) Rensselaer, IN W 8-0 Ball State Finds Victim: Cardinal Defense Offsets Fumbles, Nips St. Joe, 8-0 The Muncie Star October 15, 1961 Sports 1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-press-ball-state-finds-victim/151812266/ Newspapers.com October 21 Indiana State<HC> Ball State Field Muncie, IN (Blue Key Victory Bell) L 0-41 > 9,000 Sycamores Stoutest Winless Team Among State Elevens The Muncie Star Jerry Fennell October 20, 1961 21 https://www.newspapers.com/article/muncie-evening-press-sycamores-stoutest/153414987/ Newspapers.comGrads View 41-0 Debacle: Cardinal Collapse Spurs Sycamores The Muncie Star Bob Barnet October 22, 1961 1C, 3C https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-press-grads-view-41-0-debacle/151811978/ Newspapers.com October 28 at Valparaiso Valparaiso, IN L 20-28 Valpo Batters Down Cards in 2nd Half: Overcomes BSC Lead at 28-20 The Muncie Star October 29, 1961 1 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-press-valpo-batters-down-cards/153415971/ Newspapers.comCrusaders, Butler Ready For Showdown: VU Trails Cards 3 Times But Wins Sixth Straight Vidette-Messenger Bob Cuccia October 30, 1961 7 https://www.newspapers.com/article/vidette-messenger-of-porter-county-crusa/151760454/ Newspapers.com November 4 Evansville Ball State Field Muncie, IN W 6-3 Subs, Defense Halt Aces: Late BSC Gamble Leads to 6-3 Win The Muncie Star November 5, 1961 1C, 3C https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-press-subs-defense-halt-aces/151789096/ Newspapers.com November 11 at Ohio Northern<ncg> Ada, OH L 20-49 Card Fumbles Aid Own Burial in 49-20 Grid Wind-Up Defeat The Muncie Star November 12, 1961 1 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-press-card-fumbles-aid-own-bur/153416251/ Newspapers.comBears Feast Mansfield News-Journal November 12, 1961 34 https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-journal-bears-feast/150920930/ Newspapers.com Record Book Ball State Football Ball State University 2024 54 August 16, 2024 https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sidearm.nextgen.sites/bsu.sidearmsports.com/documents/2024/5/21/2024_Football_Record_Book.pdf Statistics The Cardinals tallied 1,729 yards of total offense (216.1 yards per game), consisting of 1,256 rushing yards (157 yards per game) and 473 passing yards (59.1 yards per game). On defense, the Cardinals gave up 2,102 yards (262.8 yards per game) with and 1,496 rushing yards (187 yards per game) and 606 passing yards (75.8 yards per game). The team set a program record by losing 33 fumbles in a season -- an average of more than four fumbles lost per game. The record remains unbroken as of the 2024 season.Record Book, p. 32. Senior quarterback Phil Sullivan led the team in passing, completing 20 of 69 passes (28.9% completion percentage) for 269 yards.Record Book, p. 18. He also led the team with 374 yards of total offense. Halfback Joe Burvan in rushing, tallying 278 rushing yards on 54 carries for an average of 5.1 yards per carry.Record Book, p. 14. Halfback Joe Robinson led the team in scoring with 20 points on three touchdowns and a two-point conversion.Record Book, p. 24. End Larry Hamel was the team's receiving leader with 145 receiving yards on 9 receptions for an average of 16.1 yards per reception.Record Book, p. 22. Awards The John Magnabosco Award for the most outstanding player of 1961 went to center and co-captain Al Thomas.Record Book, p. 40. Players 20em Jim Biltz, halfback, 156 pounds Terry Bonta, quarterback, sophomore, 170 pounds John Burtrum, halfback, 175 pounds Joe Burvan, halfback, 170 pounds Frank Cerqueira, tackle, sophomore, 196 pounds Larry Dreasky, fullback, sophomore, 173 pounds Colin Duffala, end Jim Freeman, guard, 215 pounds Larry Hamell (sometimes Hamel), end, 209 pounds Ted Huber, guard, 190 pounds Don Hunter, center Peter Jubeck (sometimes listed as Jubek), fullback and co-captain, senior Dick Lootens, guard, 187 pounds George McKay, end, 204 pounds Dick Rinehart, tackle, 221 pounds Joe Robinson, halfback, 180 pounds John Shipley, quarterback, 161 pounds Max Smith, end Phil Sullivan, quarterback, senior, 160 pounds Al Thomas, center and co-captain, 207 pounds John Walker, halfback Ron Webb, end, 193 pounds Dave Welcome, tackle, 225 pounds Bob Wetnight, fullback, sophomore Jim Zielinski, tackle, 224 pounds 96 Cardinals Get Varsity, Frosh Awards Muncie Evening Press December 5, 1961 11 https://www.newspapers.com/article/muncie-evening-press-96-cardinals-get-va/153377691/ Newspapers.com Jim Freeman was regarded as one of the ICC's best lineman, sustained a serious knee injury in the Cardinals' homecoming loss to Indiana State and was lost to the team for the remainder of the season.Freeman Loss Worst Blow for Luckless Cards The Muncie Star Bob Barnet October 23, 1961 6 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-press-freeman-loss-worst-blow-f/153415626/ Newspapers.com References External links Film of Eastern Michigan game Film of Evansville game Ball State Category:Ball State Cardinals football seasons Ball State Cardinals football